WELSH SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 5

WELSH SERVICE.

St David’s Sunday Observance.

The fourteenth annual Welsh service, in connection with St David’s Sunday, was held in the Anglican Cathedral yesterday afternoon, when a good congregation attended. A special choir, under the conductorship of Mr J. Filer, was particularly impressive in its singing of Welsh national hymns. The Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan. M.P.) and the Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville) as well as members of the Christchurch City Council, attended the service. The collection, after deductions for expenses, was devoted to the Mayor’s Coal and Blanket Fund.

The service opened with the singing of “ Ilyfrydol,” in Welsh, followed by The Lord’s Prayer, “ Ein Tad, yr hyn V nefoedd, Sancteiddier dy Enw . . . ”

The lessons were read in Welsh, and the majority of the hymns were "sung in the same tongue. Taking as his text the fourth, fifth and sixth verses of the 137th Psalm,

1 How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land ...” the Rev Owen Williams, of Christ’s College, said that the Welsh and the Jewish races had been compared for their similarities before this. “It is indeed true that in the two peoples there are many common traits—their passionate loyalty and love of art and poetry are but two of them. All the world over, Welshmen and Jews have carried their national genius and characteristics. They have made their mark from the plains of Patagonia to the farthermost limits of the globe. Welshmen remember on St David’s Day the glorious traditions of their fathers, and recollect their national greatness.” ii a J^ ame Gower Burns gave as a solo, “ I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,” from the “Messiah.” Mr H. Glaysher also sang “ Lead Kindly Light ” (Pughe Evans). The hymns sung were “Y Delyn Aur ” “ The Harp of Gold,” “ Huddersfield,” “ Gwladys,” “St John, ’ “ Llanfair,” ' and “ Rhondda.” After the Benediction, the Welsh National Anthem and the National Anthem were sung. The organist was Mr A. M. Owen and the harpist Mr H. Glaysher.